(Brock Laue/CHSAANow.com)
LONGMONT — The Tanya Haave Region of the Class 4A girls basketball state tournament has produced the top upset of the playoffs thus far, three overtime games and a Sweet 16 showdown at Longmont High School that was won in extra time.
On Friday, the region featured a 45-38 upset by No. 8 Widefield over No. 1 Longmont, snapping a 21-game winning streak for the Trojans, along with overtime wins by No. 4 D’Evelyn over No. 5 Pueblo West and No. 3 Windsor over No. 6 Thomas Jefferson.
Not to be outdone, Saturday was drama-filled again at Longmont as D’Evelyn (16-9 overall) sealed their fifth consecutive Great 8 appearance with a 68-61 overtime win over Widefield (14-11).
In a game with regular lead changes, plenty of fast-paced play and senior stars stepping up, the Jaguars trailed 19-18 after the first, led 39-31 at the half, went down 47-46 after the third, and missed a potential game-winning three-pointer in the closing seconds of regulation while tied at 59. But their superior playoff experience, none of Widefield’s girls had ever appeared in the postseason, paid off as they played patient and poised down the stretch.
D’Evelyn coach Chris Olson thinks experience was indeed a factor.
“We are very fortunate that we have a real positive tradition,” he said. “We’ve played in the playoffs and gone far, so a lot of our kids have been a part of that culture the last few years. In a game like this, you really need that reserve to call on. They really did in crunch time when they needed to.”
Senior guard Aubrey Sotolongo certainly displayed the clutch factor late for the Jaguars. The team’s leading scorer on the season with an average of 14.3 points per game going into Saturday, was actually held scoreless through three quarters. She came alive in the fourth and in overtime though with 11 points, including a personal 5-0 run to give D’Evelyn a 51-47 lead early in the fourth.
And backcourt mates Lexi and Angi Reed also played at a high-level throughout. The sister tandem of Lexi (19 points), a senior starter, and Angi (10), a sophomore who came off the bench, combined for 29 points—as Lexi’s playmaking skills applied constant pressure on Widefield, and Angi’s standout defense and seven points in the second quarter gave energy to the Jaguars.
“They have a lot of similarities, but they are their own people,” Olson said. “Angi is a great on-ball defender, Lexi is that floor general and directs things. Angi struggled a little bit early in the game last night. She was real aggressive and had fouls. But I really was proud of her maturity today as a sophomore. It’s fun having them. I know they’ve enjoyed playing together.”
The elder Reed, during an ice cold third quarter for D’Evelyn, had all seven of her team’s points, including a big 3-pointer in the closing seconds of the frame. That was before Widefield freshman guard Aaliyah Ricketts hit a half-court buzzer beater to give the Gladiators a 47-46 lead. Nonetheless, Reed’s offensive output helped D’Evelyn calm the waters again.
“The same thing happened yesterday,” Reed said. “We had a dry spell in the fourth quarter. Having that adversity that we faced yesterday helped us a lot today.”
While D’Evelyn was able to secure another Great 8 appearance, the previous four teams had loftier records and higher seeds.
“This season was a little different than the past four,” Reed said. “We’ve faced more adversity this season than any other year. To make it, people might not have been expecting it, but we’ll be there next weekend.”
As for Widefield, 6-foot-1 senior Logan Prater, entering the Sweet 16 averaging 15.6 points and 12.6 rebounds, was a force in the first half with 20 points, but she picked up her third foul with 37 seconds left in the second quarter and only had two points after the break. Fellow senior forward Alora Lampkin finished with 17 points, 13 in the second half, and Ricketts had 11.
“I think our lack of playoff experience kind of showed up at the end, but we fought for four quarters and a couple extra minutes,” Widefield coach Jim Mason said. “I’m pleased with what they accomplished this weekend. We don’t have anybody on our squad, including our four seniors, who had been to the playoffs. Prater would’ve been her sophomore year, but she had a concussion so she didn’t play. For that, it’s pretty good.”